Making A Good First Impression

Beautification Efforts Find Wide-spread Support

Regional Group Eyes Historic Triangle

July 19, 2000|By KARA VICK Daily Press

YORK — When visitors first drive through the area in the Historic Triangle bordered by Route 199 and Interstate 64, developer Sterling Nichols wants them to have a lasting impression - one that's positive.

He wants them to see manicured medians with flowers and easy-to-follow signs pointing them in the correct direction. He wants the signs uniform throughout the area, even though visitors can pass through three different jurisdictions within a half mile.

On Tuesday, Nichols grinned as two years of lobbying paid off when a local land use committee endorsed his concept. The Regional Issues Committee, a group of representatives from York, James City and Williamsburg, is urging the three localities to adopt a resolution for corridor beautification efforts along entry roads inside the boundary of Route 199 and I-64.

The idea is to improve the aesthetics of the roadways leading into Williamsburg. The changes could be anything from cutting the grass more often to burying overhead utility lines to having uniformed directional signs.

"The first impression you get is when you drive into an area and it's a lasting impression,'' Nichols said.

Currently, the city of Williamsburg does its own landscaping, but York's and James City's entryway landscaping is done by the Virginia Department of Transportation. Some local leaders complain VDOT doesn't cut the grass as often as some wish.

Under the regional group's proposal, York and JCC would take over landscaping for VDOT. Bruce Goodson, chairman of the committee and James City County supervisor, said he did not know how much extra this would cost the counties, if anything.

Signage along roadways also is VDOT's responsibility in the counties and is something the committee thinks needs improvement.

About four or five years ago Williamsburg changed its directional signs to be more user-friendly. Instead of having separate block signs cluttered together on individual posts, Williamsburg put the different road directions on one board with a dark green backing.

While the boards mark the directions of different routes, they also give the more common name of the road. For instance, a sign at the intersection of Second and Page streets points in the direction of Route 60, but also has an arrow pointing to Bypass Road (which is Route 60).

"It's one of the projects that has had the most positive feedback,'' said Dan Clayton, city public works and utilities director, of the reconfigured signage.

The committee is looking at Williamsburg signage as a model for James City and York.

The committee also is considering establishing a program to encourage private landowners to improve the facades of their buildings along entryways. The committee will discuss a proposal for that program at its next scheduled meeting in October.

Because the area's tax base is supported by tourists who sleep in local hotels, eat in area restaurants and visit local attractions, those who support the beautification project say these visual improvements need to be made for the area's economic health.

"This will give the whole community a community feel,'' Goodson said.

Kara Vick can be reached at 229-3784 or by e-mail at kvick@dailypress.com